Eleven-year-old Rachel Lim of Briarcliff Manor, New York, won the third-annual Longines “Future Tennis Aces – On the Road to the French Open” U.S. Qualifying Tournament on Saturday, April 14, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Lim defeated Amanda Nord of Pittsburgh 2-6, 6-2, 10-8 in the championship match and will represent the United States when she competes against world finalists from 15 countries around the world at the global event at Roland Garros during the final weekend of the French Open.

“After losing the first set I had to regroup and think of a new way to win, then I won the second set 6-2,” said Lim. “The tie-breaker was really close, but I managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat and win.”

Lim, who will turn 12 on April 25, competed against 15 other top-ranked players from all over the country. Tennis legend Billie Jean King and 1993 French Open doubles champion Luke Jensen were on hand to offer inspiration to the young players.

In addition to winning an all-expense paid trip to Roland Garros, Lim will compete for a chance to play with former world No. 1 Stefanie Graf in a match prior to the French Open Women’s Final and financing for her tennis equipment until her 16th birthday, courtesy of Longines.

Graf assisted in selecting the 16 U.S. competitors, who were asked to write a 300-word essay on philanthropy. The girls were selected on two criteria: athletic performance and commitment to giving back to the community.

Tournament runner-up Nord and consolation draw winner Elena Van Linge of Menlo Park, California, were presented with tickets to the 2012 U.S. Open.